Goodwill took root in 1902 when a minister in Boston recognized a need and helped people in his community find meaningful work opportunities. His goodwill efforts became a movement that would eventually expand across the world.
Edgar J. Helms worked as a missionary in the slums of Boston. People, many of them new immigrants to the U.S., often came to his church looking for help. Rev. Helms did not shy away. He would gather burlap sacks and visit the wealthier residents in his community asking for items they no longer needed or wanted.
After collecting the donations, Rev. Helms took the items to his church where people repaired what was broken and then sold the used goods. He didn't believe in charity, but a chance. The reverend gave people a chance to make it on their own, to work for a living, and to maintain the dignity that comes with earning a paycheck.
The Goodwill movement swept the country and in 1957 Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, Inc. was formed. For more than 50 years we have dedicated ourselves to helping people in middle and west Tennessee communities find work.
When our organization opened we worked primarily with people who had disabilities by providing job training and other services. By 1994 it became apparent that a growing number of people without disabilities would also benefit from our services. Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee then expanded its mission to include clients with challenges ranging from no work history, to those with a criminal record, former drug users and others who have trouble finding and keeping jobs.
Today our career counselors help a variety of people who come to Goodwill looking for an opportunity to work and to improve their lives.
2007
- Goodwill celebrated 50 years of changing lives, one at time. For personal success stories, visit us at www.whatyougiveme.com.
- Transitional Employment Program was born—refocus on serving those with disabilities
- Opened Spring Hill Store and Donation Center—our first store built from the ground up
- Goodwill held “Project Organize” to thank donors for their generosity over the last 50 years.
- Goodwill opened two additional stores, Union City and South Jackson, and relocated two other stores, Lewisburg and Rivergate.
- Goodwill opened a Donation Express Center in Bellevue.
- For the first time, Career Solutions placed over 200 people into good jobs in one month.
- TRAC Training Program partnership born and implemented--trains people for jobs in retail, call center, and re
- Opened four new Career Solutions Centers: Union City, Lewisburg, Rivergate, and Spring Hill
- Created a new partnership with Nissan
- Held the first-ever Disability Forum
- Served one million donors in one year
2006
- Officially changed the title of mission services from Employment and Training to Career Solutions
- Opened two new retail stores in Murfreesboro and Hendersonville making it 30 stores total.
- Career Solutions served 5,117 people and helped place 1,626 in jobs. Of which, 956 people kept their jobs for 90 days or more.
2005
- The Career Solutions department served 3,554 people and placed 1,018 in jobs. Of which 654 people kept their jobs for 90 days or more.
2000-2004
- Partnered with Safe Haven to provide services to the homeless
- Opened a Career Solutions Center in Cookeville (2002)
- Opened a Career Solutions Center in Shelbyville (2003)
- Expanded Career Solutions services into Springfield (2004)
- Senior Community Service Employment Program ended
- Summer Work Program for Youth grew - a record 129 youth enrolled that year in 2004
- Opened Career Solutions Centers in Berry Hill and Franklin (2004)
- Lost United Way funding for Retail Training Program and Job Retention
- Funded 50 percent of Job Resource Program at Berry Hill
- Held two successful job fairs in 2003 and 2004
1994-1999
- Mission changed to include serving clients with other barriers to employment
- National Council on Aging funded the Senior Community Services Employment Program helping clients 55 or older locate employment
- Contracted with Vocational Rehabilitation to do computer training and work with substance abusers (both programs faded out by 1998)
- Opened a Clarksville Career Solutions Center making it the first outside of Nashville
- Opened a Career Solutions Center in Murfreesboro
- Started the Job Resource Program at Woodbine (partially funded by United Way)
- Started Retail Training Program (partially funded by United Way)
1974-1994
- Contract Services purely sheltered for clients with disabilities
- Received first one-year CARF accreditation
- Received first three-year CARF accreditation
- Contracted with Senior Citizens, Inc. to run its cafeteria
- Summer Work Program for Youth began
- Career Solutions placed between 100 to 150 clients
- Contracted with Tennessee State Department of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities
- Contracted with Tennessee Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
- Started the Job Retention Program (partially funded by United Way)